All Lubes Are Not Created Equal

It’s a common misconception that the sole purpose of lubrication is to make things “slippery.” But there are many more ways lubrication benefits CNC machines. Using proper machine lubrication reduces wear, friction and heat, and minimizes corrosion. It also acts as a shield, blocking foreign particles from getting into sensitive areas of the machine. While most wouldn’t argue the need for using machine lubrication at all times, it’s equally important to understand that “all lubes are not created equal.”

Recommended Lubricant

Okuma recommends lubricants for each of their CNC machines and this information can be found in the Operation and Maintenance manual. These are the lubricants used in the testing of these machines during development, and Okuma has written agreements with these suppliers that ensure the lubricant always has the proper viscosity, additives and properties in each batch they produce. Users who fail to use the recommended lubricant are removing themselves from these necessary protections and therefore voiding the machine’s warranty.

Damaging Effects

Several damaging effects can arise from using the incorrect lube on CNC machines:

• Premature wear on the ballscrew and ways, due to friction because the oil is too light
• Using oil that is too thick can create stick-slip, or a jerking motion, and greatly reduces repeatability
• Cause seals to prematurely harden
• Create hard spots in the lube lines, thus negatively affecting flow

Choosing to use a lubrication not recommended in Okuma’s Operation and Maintenance manual can have big negative impact on the company’s bottom line when considering machine downtime, the waste in making bad parts, paying employees who have no machine to operate, or even needing to purchase a new machine.

Thanks to Eric Seighman (Support Center Technician, Okuma America) for providing this Service Tip.